Anchor: The government has decided to keep current social distancing rules in place for two more weeks despite a recent decline in COVID-19 cases as part of efforts to conclusively curb the third wave of the pandemic. It is also set to implement special quarantine measures for Lunar New Year which will begin on February 1. 
Our Bae Joo-yon has more details. 

Report: The government has decided to extend the current Level Two-point-Five social distancing for the greater Seoul area and Level Two for other parts of the nation by two more weeks until the end of the month. It will also keep the ban on private gatherings of five or more people during the extended period. 

Starting from February 1, the government will also implement special quarantine measures for the Lunar New Year holiday for two weeks.

Such relay measures apparently come as the government believes there is a need to further slash daily COVID-19 cases in order to smoothly carry out vaccination efforts set to begin at the end of February. 

While making no changes to the main social distancing rules, the government on Monday did, however, ease restrictions for some businesses that have been shut down amid the surge in infections.

Some 112-thousand indoor gyms, karaoke facilities and private cram schools in the greater Seoul area were allowed to reopen from Monday on the condition they strictly follow antivirus measures. The ban on group exercises such as aerobics and Zumba classes will remain in place. In addition, cafes can now open for dine-in operations until 9 p.m., just like restaurants. 

The government may consider easing the social distancing level in the Seoul metro area in two weeks if daily cases remain below 500 this week.

Last week, daily infections stood at an average of 499, slipping below 500 for the first time since early December when the third wave of the pandemic began to pick up momentum. 

On Monday, the nation reported 389 COVID-19 cases, seeing daily numbers slip to the 300 range for the first time in 54 days.

Though daily cases have gone down, health authorities remain on alert as the drop is not steep and infections originating from small gatherings, which are harder to trace, continue to be on the rise. 

Health Ministry spokesperson Son Young-rae said earlier on Sunday that it is too early to breathe a sigh of relief, warning there is always the risk of a resurgence in cases.
Bae Joo-yon, KBS World Radio News.